Isn't it just the best feeling...

when someone contacts you to ask if they can feature your work in their blog :)

I had an email from Amanda Lincoln (a Graphic Designer & Surface Pattern Designer) through Folksy on Friday asking just that... and of course I said yes!

You should take a look at her blog... she has some beautiful pictures (I love all the cool craft rooms!).

These are the items she chose to include...

Thank you Amanda!

Apple Cosy / Cozy - Free Pattern

So, I'd never even heard of one of these apple cosy things until recently!  When I spotted someone with one, I my first thought was 'what a fab idea' and secondly 'I bet I could make one better than that'!!

So off I went trawling the internet for a pattern.  I tried a few (one started with a chain 30 - must have been a footbal sized apple!!), one started off ok, but didn't really work with my yarn (all single crochets so not enough give), so in the end I did what I usually do and made it up as I went along!

I wanted it to have a bit of stretch and give - not all apples are the same size - so went for a half-double (hdc) stitch (it's also one of my favs!).  I've never done a half-double decrease (hdc2tog) before so made it up!!  I've since checked though and it seems I did it right!

Here goes...

stitches are US
hdc2tog - yo, through st, (3 loops on hook), yo, through next st, yo through all 5 loops on hook
start working in rounds until the split, then in rows
I use DK handknit cotton and a size 4.0mm hook with a 3.00mm for the loop and the slip stitch around the top

start with a magic circle
1 6hdc in circle (6)
2 2hdc in each hdc, repeat (12)
3 1hdc in next st, 2hdc in next, repeat (18)
4 1hdc in next 2 st, 2hdc in next, repeat (24)
5 1hdc in next 3 st, 2hdc in next, repeat (30)
6 1hdc in next 4 st, 2hdc in next, repeat (36)
7 1hdc in each st around (36)
8 ch1, turn (working in rows now) 36hdc
9 ch1, turn 36hdc
10 ch1, turn 36hdc
11 ch1, turn 36hdc
12 ch1, turn, *1hdc in next 3 st, hdc2tog*, repeat**
13 ch1, turn, *1hdc in next st, hdc2tog*, repeat**
14 make a chain for the button (I use a 3.0mm hook and about ch16)
l5 make the chain into a loop and slipstitch around the top of the cosy (I carry on with the smaller hook).
FO and add a button to fasten


Add your apple and fasten!

Click here if you'd rather buy than make!

Amgurumi Update... it's an elephant!

It's been a busy old week this week what with the Folksy Valentinos listing club starting and Thomas getting a cold and his first tooth (yikes, at 6 months, the other two were 9 and 14 months!!). Anyhow, I forgot I was going to post an update to the amigurumi elephant I started the week before last (was it really that long ago, how time flies!).

So, it went from this....





to this.....




How cute is he!!

The Valentinos - Folksy February Listing Club

So it's 1st February already and once again I've decided to join the listing club, called the Valentinos! I can't believe it was way back in June when I did the last one (and started the July Jesters before Little T made his appearance!).



Here is my first listing... hopefully by the end of the month there'll be 28 new items in my Folksy shop (and hopefully some sales!).

Can you guess what it is yet....??!

Here's my work in progress...

I've been trying my hand at amigurumi! I'm not sure whether the first one is a cat or a bunny yet! I think I'll leave it to H to decide as the pink one will be hers! The blue one will hopefully be a baby elephant for baby T. I'll take some more pictures when they're finished!

Free Crochet Heart Pattern

**Check here for my new and improved heart patterns!**
http://heloisev.weebly.com/free-crochet-patterns.html

Follow the links on the pictures if you'd rather buy than make!

All stiches are US.

Smallest Heart (one round)
Make a magic circle (all stiches into the circle)
ch3
3tr
3dc
ch1
1tr
ch1
3dc
3tr
ch2
ss into circle and fasten off.

Middle Heart (two rounds)

1st round - As for smallest heart, but don't fasten off

2nd round - ch3

in 1st tr from prev round 1sc & 1hdc

in next st 3hdc

next st 2hdc

1sc in each st down to the bottom - 4

ch1

1dc in the tr from prev round

ch1

sc in next 4 stitches

next st 2hdc

next st 3 hdc

next st 1hdc and 1 sc

ch3

ss to join and fasten off

Biggest Hearts (3 rounds)

1st and 2nd rounds are the same as for the Smallest and Middle Hearts above, but don't fasten off.

ch3

sc in the ch3 from prev round

in next st 2sc

in next st 1sc

in next st 2sc

1sc in each st down to the bottom (#?)

ch1

1sc in each st same as first side (#?)

2sc in next st

1sc in next st

2sc in next st

ch3

ss and fasten off

New Yarn Colour - Lilac!

I was very excited to get a lovely new yarn colour earlier this week - lilac (actually, that's not its official name, i need to check what that is!). What do you think? I think it's lovely!
I just need to try it out with some other colour combinations next....

Sneak Attack!

I've been 'Sneak Attacked'!!

Take a look here to see what an Attack is...

http://www.handmademovement.com/

I woke up on Friday morning to 4 sales and 6 items sold - what a great morning!

Yesterday morning the parcels were posted...

How fab! http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeloiseV now has 9 sales! Not bad for my first three weeks... let's hope it continues!

Spring Flower Pattern

Right, I'm trying to keep a record of the patterns I use now I've got a good few on the go as I'm starting to get confused!

This is a mega easy one for little spring flowers. Each one is about 1.25" across with a 3mm crochet hook and has 5 petals.

Spring Flower Pattern

Chain 4 and join with a ss
1 - 10 sc (single crochet) into the ring and join with a ss
2 - *Chain 2, in the next stitch 1 dc (double crochet) and 1 hdc (half double crochet), ss (slip stitch) in the next stitch*
Repeat * to * 4 more times to make 5 petals.
ss to first chain by pulling stich through to the back and fasten off

See, easy! This is what they should look like... so pretty and perfect for scrapbooking, cardmaking, hairbobbles... all sorts!

Lazy Daisy

My daughter picked me a lovely bunch of daisies at the weekend, and that became my inspiration for the next few days! This is what I came up with...

It had been raining and she thought the raindrops were all sparkly, so I added the tiny glass beads to some of them... No doubt they will end up on one of her (many) handbags (she's 4 and she has more than me!).

More Leaves...

Better picture of the leaves here...

Leaves Leaves Everywhere

I've been playing around with leaf patterns this week. I've attempted loads, but they're either too big and complicated or else my stitches never seem to match up with the chain! I really need to work on reading other people's patterns!

Anyway, in the end I've perfected my own, for three slightly different sized leaves, depending on the size of the flower. The patterns are in US (I find that easier)and for the two bigger leaves you work down one side of the chain then round and down the other side. The tiny one is just down one side.

Biggest Leaves pattern:

Chain 10
Miss 2 chains nearest hook
In each chain: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 3dc, 2hdc, 1 sc, 3sc in one st (takes you to the end and round to the other side)
1sc, 2hdc, 3dc, 1hdc, 1sc ss


Middle Leaf Pattern:

Chain 8
Miss 2 chains nearest hook
In each chain: 1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc, 3sc in one st (takes you to the end and round the other side)
1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc, ss



Tiny Leaf:

Chain 8
Miss chain nearest hook
In each chain: 1sc, 1hdc, 2dc, 1hdc, 1sc, ss


Hope that's ok... I usually use diagrams to remember patterns so I'm not used to writing it all down!


Here are some pictures with the leaves...

These are the biggest leaves above. The flowers are around 2". http://www.etsy.com/listing/45967275/crochet-bouquet-of-flower-applique-in

These are the tiny leaves. The flowers are 1.75" and 2.5".

First Etsy order for HeloiseV Crochet!

Well, after only one week I got my first order, and for 3 items of crochet! Here it is all packed up ready to be shipped...





The order arrived at gone 11pm last night and I had to stop myself jumping around with excitement! Everything was put together this afternoon while B&H were at school and we'll take a trip to the post office tomorrow.

My First Blog

Well, the 1st May seems like a good day to start my blog!

I was going to say it's a beautiful sunny day here in York, but it's just started raining, how typical!

So, a few months ago I decided to teach myself to crochet! I'm pregnant with my third baby and am supposed to be resting (difficult with a 6 year old and a 4 year old!) due to SPD, so crochet seemed like the perfect way to keep my fingers busy while resting my legs!

I started off, rather ambitiously, with a baby blanket! Granny squares are fab to make and I found a really good pattern with tutorial to follow. I've now finished all the squares I need, but am yet to find the patience to crochet them all together! Here's a few squares... our pram is red so hopefully it'll match... and I'd better get round to finishing soon... only 9 weeks to go!!






I've now found a love of crochet flowers! They are so quick and easy to make and look so cute! My daughter now has flower applique on her jeans and bags and has flower and heart hairclips and bobbles!

So, that's me for now. The washing is soggy on the line, I've mug of hot chocolate, and I'm about to crochet a lovely big pink flower to go with the smaller ones while I've got the house to myself... very May Bank Holiday....!

** Just editing to add a link to the granny square instructions I followed for my blanket. Thank you to Lucy at attic24!

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/summer-garden-granny-square.html